12th ASEAN Summit: One Caring and Sharing Community

Somebody sent me a text message last week that read: "Pinay, I'l b going 2 d summ8 w d sign: Human need not corporate greed. Local gov't spends PhP515 million on CICC [Cebu International Convention Center] wyl schools r overcrowdd & undr equipd & teachers undrpaid."

The 12th ASEAN Summit was scheduled to open yesterday and begin the series of leaders meetings today until the 14th. But last Friday, Ambassador Marciano Paynor, Jr. of the National Organizing Committee announced of the postponement of said summit to January 2007 "because of the threats of typhoon Seniang."

Awright, we have sunk in a tooth to the information being fed to us, but we aren't morons to gobble down that classic example of snafu (situation normal all f***ked up!). How can we ever believe that weather disturbance is the only reason why the event was stalled, when the country swore earlier it is ready for any forms of terror attacks? If we are indeed ready for terror attacks that require greater magnitude of cooperation and preparation, how come authorities can't put up one against a signal-number-one typhoon?

Despite the snafu, I'm resolved to presenting first vital information on the supposed four-day international event that would certainly arrest the world's attention on Cebu, a dot on the Pacific.

How can a Filipino be a part of efforts to actualize the vision of the ASEAN community? While there are the issues on the displacement of marginalized people, and questions raised on how government funds are being spent recently, I feel that Cebu's "need to be seen in the global scene" was the driving force that propelled local leaders to take on the challenge of hosting this convergence of heads of states, after the organizing committee offered it here. Supposedly, the summit has taken place in Myanmar (Burma).

The most motivating factor is the prospect of invigorating all the more our local tourism.

The ASEAN

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations was established on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand --- its five original member countries. Brunei Darussalam joined on January 8, 1984, Vietnam on July 28, 1995, Lao People's Democratic Republic and Myanmar on July 23, 1997 and Cambodia on April 30, 1999.

The ASEAN Vision

The ASEAN Vision 2020, adopted by the ASEAN Leaders on the 30th anniversary of ASEAN, agreed on a shared vision of ASEAN as a concert of Southeast Asian nations, outward looking, living in peace, stability and prosperity, bonded together in partnership in dynamic development and in a community of caring societies.

Why is ASEAN relevant to the Philippines?

Stability, peace and order are essential objectives for the safety of all Filipino citizens and the sustainable development and growth of the country. These are objectives that are directly supported by the principles of ASEAN.

In what way is ASEAN helping the Philippines realize these objectives?

First, ASEAN has improved regional stability by reducing tension between the countries of Southeast Asia and bringing them closer together. Improved regional stability, on the other hand, enables closer cooperation among ASEAN countries; a regional environment that enables expanded trade among ASEAN countries and increased investments and tourism flows across ASEAN countries and with countries outside ASEAN, greater support and cooperation from dialogue partners; and growth, jobs, and economic and technological advancement.

Second, ASEAN supports the Philippines on vital national security questions. ASEAN nations have banded together to contain regional disputes and to promote cooperation in the South China Sea. The South China Sea is an area of important sealanes, natural resources, and security threats in the form of piracy, smuggling and trafficking, and overlapping territorial claims, which lies just next to the Philippines.

Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam, in addition, have extended crucial assistance for the peace process in Mindanao. They have helped broker peace talks and ceasefires with Filipino Muslim separatists and have provided diplomatic backing for the Philippines in the Organization of Islamic Conference.

What does the ASEAN seek to achieve during the Cebu summit?

As chair of the ASC, the country will steer ASEAN closer to realizing its vision of an ASEAN Community by 2020.

For Filipinos and their neighbors in the region, this will expand access to regional products and services at more competitive prices, ease the movement of people, including students, businessmen and workers; enhance economic efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness in ASEAN countries; improve food security, liberalize the flow of investments which will in turn create more jobs, alleviate poverty and reduce socio-economic disparities.

More details are available at www.aseansec.org or www.12thaseansummit.org.ph.

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